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Social & Emotional Development

We need Child Care for All Families Now!

February 27, 2019
I’m newly back in the office after having my baby and I have one thing on my mind—we HAVE TO solve the childcare crisis in this country. At my neighborhood meetup for new parents not a week goes by that childcare doesn’t come up as a major issue for families. Moms with no choice but to quit jobs...
Nina Perez's picture

Celebrating International Mother Language Day and Bangladeshi American Culture

February 27, 2019
This event that was organized, run by and that featured Bangladeshi American women is a powerful testament to the dynamics of a culture that has woven itself through the fabric of a city so many Bangladeshis call home. Connecting and celebrating our languages and cultures can be a light during dark times for many of our communities and a reminder that no matter what challenges we may face, we are here to stay, thrive and be proud of who we are and where we come from.
Nadia's picture

How Girls Are Using Social Media to Build Up (and Break Down) Their Self-Image

February 25, 2019
It's not a law that you have to post a selfie before, during, and after every activity. But for kids, it's pretty much mandatory. The resulting likes, thumbs-ups, and other ratings all get tallied, both in the stark arithmetic of the Internet and in kids' own minds. For some -- especially girls --...
Caroline Knorr's picture

Honoring the Trailblazing Judge Patricia Wald

February 22, 2019
When President Barack Obama awarded Judge Patricia Wald the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013, he summed up her career this way: “Patricia McGowan Wald made history as the first woman appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Rising to Chief Judge of...
Marian Wright Edelman's picture

Social Emotional Health and our Immigration Issues

February 12, 2019
My heart sinks every time I watch the news or read my Twitter feed. How did we get here? Our country has become so polarized when it pertains to our immigration system that we have lost the ability to feel empathy for those who seek assistance. As a mental health professional, I am alarmed that our...
Lina Acosta Sandaal's picture

Supporting New and Expectant Black Mothers

February 5, 2019
Pregnancy-related mortality and morbidity rates are on the rise in this country. Each year, 700 to 900 women die from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes in the U.S., and approximately 65,000 experience serious complications. For Black women, the statistics are even worse. Regardless of...
Alexis Anderson's picture

Should You Talk to Your Kids About What's Happening in the News?

January 28, 2019
Beyond sharing the who, what, where, and when, explain why something happened and how big of a deal it is. This provides context and perspective. Also, tell kids a bit about how media functions, so they appreciate the relationship among news outlets, sponsors, and viewership. Take care when...
Caroline Knorr's picture

A Call to Conscience

January 18, 2019
January 15th would have been Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 90th birthday. How should we honor him today? Earlier this month Dr. King’s personal attorney and friend Clarence Jones convened an intergenerational, interracial, interfaith group for the launch of the Gandhi King Institute for Nonviolence...
Marian Wright Edelman's picture

5 Family Media Resolutions to Make in 2019

January 12, 2019
What do you remember from 2018? Did you share pics of your kid on Facebook? Did you sneak a peek at their texts with their friends? Did you yell at them to get off their devices ? Did you watch a movie that made you both laugh (or cry) ? Did they send you a text that filled your heart and reminded...
Caroline Knorr's picture

Lucy Durr Hackney

January 11, 2019
When Lucy Durr married Sheldon Hackney in 1957, the custom alterations to her beautiful gown were done for her by a family friend–Mrs. Rosa Parks. This wonderful detail opens a small window into my dear friend and former Children’s Defense Fund board and volunteer staff member Lucy Durr Hackney’s...
Marian Wright Edelman's picture

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